How To Make Your Home Look Rustic

If you want the rustic atmosphere of an old cabin in your home without the difficulties that come with an old cabin, you might feel torn when it comes to decorating your house. You might be wondering how to make your home look rustic while keeping all the luxuries of a modern house. It’s a hard balance to achieve, but it’s not impossible, especially if you take some of these suggestions.

Reclaim Some Wood

Any good rustic project starts with the aesthetic of old wood and iron structures. A lot of the materials you may need for your project are sitting in unused buildings and abandoned barns. For your project to have its own personality, try scavenging or purchasing wood from places like old barns or damaged antiques. When you have your reclaimed wood, you can then use it to make furniture or wall paneling.

Whenever you scavenge wood, remember to make sure that it is safe to put in your home in any fashion. Some wood used for outdoor purposes contains dangerous chemicals that protect it from bugs and pests. Lead-based paint can also be extremely hazardous. It’s generally wise to purchase the wood from someone trustworthy or enlist the help of someone educated in antique wood before moving forward with your project.

Your Paint Matters!

Some rustic aesthetics demand that furniture gets a fresh coat of paint. But how can you make furniture look rustic when repainting it makes it look so new and fresh? The answer lies in the type of paint you use. No, we don’t mean the color or brand of the paint—it’s the composition of the paint that matters. One of your options to make a newer piece of furniture look older is a paint type called milk paint. Milk paint comes to you as a powder, and you’ll need to mix it with water before you use it. You can also thin it out with as much water as you need to give it a flakier, more antique look or a stain coat. When it dries, it has a rustic look, and you can finish it however you want. Chalk paint is similar and typically comes pre-mixed. Both milk and chalk paint are more environmentally friendly than other paint options.

If your furniture or cabinetry is already antique and beautiful, consider refinishing it to keep it looking sleek and not grungy.

Rustic Backsplash

Backsplashes in kitchens and bathrooms are “in” right now with home design, so why not add a rustic flair? When trying to make your home look rustic, sometimes taking a modern trend and using antique or natural materials is the way to go. You can use the reclaimed wood from earlier or even stone. Natural stone designs can give your home the inviting appeal of an outdoorsy cabin while fitting in with your style. Try stone in your kitchen, bathroom, or on your fireplace for a larger project.